Eight years after its first drafting, the project to renovate the promenade at Las Vistas beach in Arona (Tenerife) is finally nearing its execution phase. The document, updated in May 2025, has been taken into consideration by the Cabildo of Tenerife, which has opened a 20-working-day public consultation period. During this time, citizens or organisations can submit objections; if none are made, the project will be considered definitively approved. The tender budget amounts to €5,432,995.16, including taxes.
The 2025 review is not merely a budget adjustment. It represents an in-depth technical update that adapts the project to current regulations and responds to the evolution of the environment, public use, and the physical wear of the promenade. Although it does not alter the area’s boundaries or require new administrative authorisation, it does introduce significant improvements affecting both urban design and underground infrastructure.
One of the most visible changes in the new version of the project is the expansion of usable space for pedestrians. The updated design plans to widen the promenade in several places, extending both towards the beach and inland. In areas where the elevation to the sand allows, the low walls separating the promenade from the beach will be demolished. Parallel to this, planters and unused elements will be removed from the landward side, freeing space and creating a wider visual and functional area.
This redesign addresses an evident need: the Las Vistas promenade is one of the busiest areas in southern Tenerife, and its current layout is narrow, fragmented, and has obstacles for fluid circulation. The new approach aims to create a continuous, more open, and comfortable platform intended to accommodate both residents and the high volume of visitors the area receives throughout the year.
Another renewed aspect is the pavement treatment. The original 2017 project envisioned a solution based on hydraulic tiles; however, the 2025 update proposes a new ceramic tile, 2 cm thick, laid directly over the existing base. This decision enhances both the durability and aesthetics of the promenade, adapting it to intensive use and adverse weather conditions. Additionally, concrete paving edges and drainage channels will be incorporated to prevent flooding. Special Superstep pieces will be installed at the edges where low walls are removed, facilitating smooth transitions between levels. The entire system has been designed with criteria for landscape integration, simple maintenance, and resistance to ongoing use.
Beyond what is visible, one of the technical pillars of the review is the comprehensive modernisation of service networks. The 2025 project corrects several structural issues in the current layout, such as the inadequate storm drainage system, partially outdated sanitation networks, and poorly located irrigation conduits. For example, conduits that ran directly through the beach sand—a very technically questioned solution—will be removed, and stormwater collectors redesigned to prevent blockages and water accumulation. The slopes and access points of the supply networks will also be adjusted, and an irrigation system adapted to a new landscape design for the promenade will be incorporated. Overall, the work seeks to ensure the sustainability and operability of the promenade in the long term, avoiding unnecessary future interventions.
One of the priorities of the new design is universal accessibility, an area where the current layout shows evident shortcomings. The original promenade includes interrupted sections, unresolved height differences, and urban elements that are not adapted, such as benches, fountains, and handrails. The 2025 proposal aims for a complete transformation to meet current legal and social inclusion criteria. The technical document defines a continuous pedestrian route, free of physical barriers, incorporating non-slip materials, gentle slopes, accessible rest areas, and adapted furniture placement. This will particularly benefit individuals with reduced mobility, the elderly, families with pushchairs, and personal mobility users, reinforcing the open and safe character of the public space.
Another significant update is the inclusion of a revised construction waste management plan, which is more stringent than that of the original document. The volume of waste generated is estimated, and proposals for its separation at source, controlled storage, and recovery through reuse and recycling are put forward. This planning aims to comply with circular economy and sustainability requirements currently set out in public procurement regulations, which were not yet fully incorporated into municipal projects in 2017. The goal is to reduce the environmental impact of the intervention and optimise resource use during execution.
The project was first drafted in 2017, promoted by the Arona City Council. At that time, it already had favourable reports from the Provincial Coastal Service and the Island Water Council of Tenerife. However, a lack of budget availability and the need for regulatory adaptation delayed its development. The 2025 version retains the same area of action but updates its technical content to make it executable today.
With the publication of the file in the Official Gazette of the Province, the project enters its final administrative phase. If no objections are submitted during the public consultation period, the document will be definitively approved, allowing the Cabildo to initiate the tender and contracting process for the works. The Las Vistas promenade, one of the most iconic in southern Tenerife, will thus be ready to begin a long-awaited transformation.
